Acting | Lesson 3
Lesson 3
Lecture 3 had us revisiting the concept of 'status', with our first exercise to enter the room holding a card (Ace to King), with the lower numbers being 'lower status', and vice versa. The goal was to interact with one another, and [1] use social cues to indirectly tell people their status, and [2] figure out your own status from other people's interactions with you. The challenge comes from not knowing your own status, and the way you then relate to the individual you're talking to. The scenario played out multiple times with each person adopting a different (but unchanging) role, and ended with everyone attempting to line ourselves in order of the status we thought we were.
The first scenario people were confused and unwilling to talk to me, which I'd misinterpreted as a product of my 'low status'.
However, it turned out I was of a higher status and evoked fear and respect as someone who they could not relate to effectively.
The 2nd time we did this, I was a 'drunkard' of a 'Queen' status, so was surprisingly regarded highly as I swayed and interrupted the general crowd. Thanks to everyone's clever quips and subtle clues I managed to guess the relatively right place in line. It just goes to show the importance of two-way conversation to indicating importance- something I hadn't previously considered before.
The next scenario was your typical 'wild west' saloon scene, with the loud bustle of music, rowdy dancers, rowing gamblers and the slurs of a drunk sitting by the bar. The Sheriff overlooking the inhabitants with mild tolerance, but a definite stern gaze nevertheless.
All at once, the sounds die down as the infamous 'gunslinger', feared far and wide, saunters into the bar, demands a drink, and leaves in a relaxed fashion, as the bar sits wide-eyed in terror.
As the gunslinger it was a challenge to stay relaxed and sure of oneself with the deathly silence that followed upon entrance. In later scenarios, peers who played this role, did well at glaring and peering at those around them. The remainder of us felt intimidated enough to avert our eyes hastily, due to the level of tension created. Retaining that tension was difficult, as any laugh or break from concentration would alleviate the pressure we'd created.
Next we split into groups of three, and was given a place/context, for which we'd have to immediately start acting a random situation from. No planning, and no discussions with the group before acting. An additional rule put to us was that at least one person must be standing, one sitting and one laying at any given time throughout the performance. This exercise was a challenging, but fun way of understanding the importance of group communication, acting on others cues, and working together to create an entertaining and 'believable' performance from one another's constantly changing ideas.
Finally we were briefed in groups of 3, to make a scenario from the following phrase:
"I've Got To Get Through This" for 4 weeks time, using the three S's we've discussed previously.
Ellie, Anastasija and myself have started to discuss a scenario of a 'dinner table scene', where a daughter introduces her partner for the first time to her overprotective father.
We'll discuss this in more depth during the Easter break.
Lecture 3 had us revisiting the concept of 'status', with our first exercise to enter the room holding a card (Ace to King), with the lower numbers being 'lower status', and vice versa. The goal was to interact with one another, and [1] use social cues to indirectly tell people their status, and [2] figure out your own status from other people's interactions with you. The challenge comes from not knowing your own status, and the way you then relate to the individual you're talking to. The scenario played out multiple times with each person adopting a different (but unchanging) role, and ended with everyone attempting to line ourselves in order of the status we thought we were.
The first scenario people were confused and unwilling to talk to me, which I'd misinterpreted as a product of my 'low status'.
However, it turned out I was of a higher status and evoked fear and respect as someone who they could not relate to effectively.
The 2nd time we did this, I was a 'drunkard' of a 'Queen' status, so was surprisingly regarded highly as I swayed and interrupted the general crowd. Thanks to everyone's clever quips and subtle clues I managed to guess the relatively right place in line. It just goes to show the importance of two-way conversation to indicating importance- something I hadn't previously considered before.
The next scenario was your typical 'wild west' saloon scene, with the loud bustle of music, rowdy dancers, rowing gamblers and the slurs of a drunk sitting by the bar. The Sheriff overlooking the inhabitants with mild tolerance, but a definite stern gaze nevertheless.
All at once, the sounds die down as the infamous 'gunslinger', feared far and wide, saunters into the bar, demands a drink, and leaves in a relaxed fashion, as the bar sits wide-eyed in terror.
As the gunslinger it was a challenge to stay relaxed and sure of oneself with the deathly silence that followed upon entrance. In later scenarios, peers who played this role, did well at glaring and peering at those around them. The remainder of us felt intimidated enough to avert our eyes hastily, due to the level of tension created. Retaining that tension was difficult, as any laugh or break from concentration would alleviate the pressure we'd created.
Next we split into groups of three, and was given a place/context, for which we'd have to immediately start acting a random situation from. No planning, and no discussions with the group before acting. An additional rule put to us was that at least one person must be standing, one sitting and one laying at any given time throughout the performance. This exercise was a challenging, but fun way of understanding the importance of group communication, acting on others cues, and working together to create an entertaining and 'believable' performance from one another's constantly changing ideas.
Finally we were briefed in groups of 3, to make a scenario from the following phrase:
"I've Got To Get Through This" for 4 weeks time, using the three S's we've discussed previously.
Ellie, Anastasija and myself have started to discuss a scenario of a 'dinner table scene', where a daughter introduces her partner for the first time to her overprotective father.
We'll discuss this in more depth during the Easter break.
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